Best of New England – part 2

It snowed up north Monday. Maniac style!

Snow = something I would have not thought possible while driving around with all the windows down and wearing shorts on Saturday. But snow it did… Even though most radar loops were all green (with some yellow bands – yikes!) there were mountains that picked up a much needed bonus of some natural flakes.

The winner = Saddleback, ME reporting 8” at 12:05 pm on 01/07/07.

from Sunday River: New Snow 1/8/07

I think (hope & pray) that must be the end of it. These problems with the weather are in the rear view mirror. It is time to pin the ears back and go.
We are all ready for ski season to begin.
Water cooler statistic: NYC has broken the record for the longest span into winter without snowfall. That is, ever since people started recording snow events. The old mark was 01/04/1878 and we are counting… LINK
I will post an entry in a few days with MLK weekend deals and information. For now, keep an eye to the sky and think snow.
****************************************
Here is more of the Guru’s Best in New England breakdown.
Best for Families: Pats Peak, NH
This ski area in Henniker, NH is an easy drive form Boston. It can be reached in just a smidge over an hour with good road conditions. That means you do not have to spend that much time in the car with the kids. The slopes themselves offer a variety of terrain for all ability levels that will allow your family members to develop their skills. For the non-skiers in your group they also have snow tubing (it is fun). The most important thing for a family area is that there is only one base lodge. Read that as meaning only one place for everyone to end up meeting. Turn the kids loose and check out the pub after nailing a few turns on the FIS slope. Further Pats Peak has programs that are very affordable (check the link above).
Local Fact – Kristen Ulmer grew up skiing at Pats Peak.
Best Food: Sugarloaf, ME
Do you eat to live or Live to Eat? Honestly, Sugarloaf is a contender for all of these “best” categories. However, the one thing it offers better than any other, thus making it the “best” is dinning options in the base area. The Loaf serves up grub at the lodge itself, and above that find the Widowmaker. The real catch is the village sits as just as close to the lifts as the lodge. Take a lunch break and enjoy restaurants like The Bag & Kettle (Sunday = Cheesburger Soup) or carb up with some Italian at Gepetto’s or Pinocciho’s. Not fancy, just grab a sandwich from D’ Ellis and get back on a chair! The food options—in very close proximity to the mountain lifts—are a unique treat at Sugarloaf. The resort has also been known to pass out apples and candy bars to folks around the lifts.
Best Couples Getaway: Sugarbush, VT
You think you two really like each other?
Test: tolerate 3+ hours alone in the car together.
Sugarbush is your spot. The Mad River Valley has slowly and quietly been visiting the plastic surgeon over the last decade to clean up its image. The result is a prime destination to impress that someone special. Besides having plenty of choices in the town of Waitsfield for dinning (try American Flatbread & Eagan’s Big World Pub) new options have been added in the Lincoln Peak base area by the resort. Or…get real and grab a not so low key beer while claiming some couch space in front of the fireplace at the Hide Away. Looking to be pampered? Try a room in their brand new Clay Brook Luxery Slopeside Hotel.
ps ~ Did I mention the skiing is world class? Best keep a close eye on that woman or you may be driving home alone…
Best Spring Skiing: Killington, VT
Could we really do a Best of New England list without Killington showing up somewhere? I guess, but it would not be a very complete or accurate one. So here it is.
Fact: the Largest Snowmaking System on the planet.
What that means for you is as long as temperatures are cooperating operations are churning out flakes like no other area can. This ensures the highest quality and deepest base depths of snow all season, never mind April. It also means that skiing and riding at Killington lasts until mid-May (and your season pass has no more blackout dates). There is no other resort that remains activate for as many days in this region. Once the baseball season is underway, and the clocks have been turned an hour ahead, don not even think just go to Killington. Sunshine – corn snow, smell of BBQ’s, and beers on the decks simply cannot be beat.
Best Kept Secret: Magic Mountain, VT
This place is a throwback. The mountain was closed for a 7 season period starting in 1989. During that time there obviously were not any capital improvements. Bring your bag of tricks because it is haunted by ghosts of times past, be careful. Everything about this place is low maintenance. Well, not exactly everything. The terrain is as good as it gets in the East; steep, challenging and technical. Get there early and Go when it Snows! If you hit this place after a dump in Southern VT you will not even want to tell anyone about it.
It is that good.
Really!
Keep it a secret.
Why did I put this on the intranet???
*************************************
Reality at work verse being a ski bum.
Work: bad investment idea – chase performance.
Ski Bum: good ski idea – chase the snow!
I am flying, I hope…
S.G.